Over 30 years ago Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo separately left their native Italy for Britain where, in time, they met, worked together and established themselves as leading authorities on Italian cooking. In this compelling book - written to accompany the primetime BBC series - the two old friends have embarked upon an amazing journey back to their homeland to reconnect with their culinary heritage, explore past and current traditions and reveal the very soul of Italian gastronomy. Containing over 100 mouthwatering recipes, this extraordinary book goes beyond the cliches to reveal real Italian food, as cooked by real Italians. It includes an intriguing combination of classic dishes and ingredients as well as others showcasing the changes in style and influences that have become a part of the Italy of today. Reflecting the insights of both men into Italy then and now, Carluccio and Contaldo's return captures the essence of its authors - their humour, their wisdom, their curiosity and, most significantly, their shared passion for good simple food. It is an essential book for anyone with a genuine interest in Italian food.

About the Author

Antonio Carluccio is one of Italy's great food ambassadors. He has written thirteen bestselling books, including Complete Italian Food, Complete Mushroom Book, Italia and Simple Cooking and has also made numerous television programmes - the latest being Carluccio and The Leopard. With Priscilla Carluccio he ran the Neal Street Restaurant in London's Covent Garden and spent 10 years developing the hugely successful Carluccio's Caffes. In 1998 Antonio was appointed Commendatore, the equivalent of a British knighthood, for his knowledge, enthusiasm and lifetime's service to the Italian food industry, and in 2007 he received the O.B.E. Author Location: London Gennaro Contaldo is a highly respected chef in London as well as a renowned personality in his own right. He is widely known as the Italian legend who taught Jamie Oliver all he knows about Italian cooking. Born in Minori on the Amalfi Coast, Gennaro's quintessentially Italian spirit and positive nature has made him a TV favourite, regularly appearing on BBC's Saturday Kitchen. He has written four cookbooks, of which Passione was awarded Best Italian Cookbook at the World Gourmand Awards in 2004 and has worked in some of London's most popular restaurants. Author Location: London